Stirling were hit for six by an impressive Arbroath side at Forthbank on Wednesday night in our second Betfred Cup Group C tie.
We enjoyed some decent spells in the game and Dylan Mackin missed two great chances while Cammy Thomson hit the bar but Dick Campbell’s team were ruthless.
David Gold and sub Greig Spence bagged doubles for the Red Lichties, with Michael McKenna and Colin Hamilton also on target. Mackin was the Stirling scorer just after half-time.
Binos boss Kevin Rutkiewicz made five changes to the team that drew with Hibs but we fell behind after just 42 seconds when Gold smashed a low shot beyond Cammy Binnie at the end of a great move.
Arbroath struck again towards the half-hour mark when McKenna headed in Hamilton’s cross but we were back in it when Mackin fired home.
Sloppy defending allowed Gold to tuck away the third and we then missed a string of chances to get back in the game before being hit by a late goal blitz.
Hamilton turned the ball in following a corner with eight minutes left then Spence had a tap-in before the ex-Alloa striker was given too much space to confidently convert the sixth.
Stirling Albion: Binnie, McGeachie, Lowdon, Thomson, Banner (McGregor 46), Truesdale, Jardine (Heaver 66), Docherty, Mackin, Wilson, Scott (Peters 77). Subs (not used): Currie (GK), McLean, Murray, Campbell.
Goal: Dylan Mackin 47
Arbroath: Gaston, Thomson (Murphy 37), Hamilton, O’Brien, Whatley, Gold, McKenna, Doris (Spence 46), Swankie (Kader 63), Linn, Wilson. Subs (not used): Jamieson (GK), Stewart.
Goals: David Gold 1, 57, Michael McKenna 28, Colin Hamilton 82, Greig Spence 87, 90
Referee: Craig Napier
Crowd: 474
